A unique vision of Clare

AN interesting exhibition by three artists, two Clare-based and one Limerick, depicting the Clare landscape in a unique and colourful way, continues at the Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery until this weekend.

Mike O’Connor from Ballyvraneen, near Ennistymon, Richard Sharpe from Quilty, and Tom Prendergast from Limerick use three very different mediums to capture images of Clare and predominantly North Clare.
The exhibition opened earlier this month and concludes this weekend. Those who have visited it and purchased works at it claim that it a must-see for any lover of art.
The three artists have been friends for a number of years and have been supporting each other in art. Both Mike and Richard have had solo exhibitions in Glór, Ennis in recent years, while Tom has previously exhibited in Limerick.
Mike explained that his work in this exhibition is based on lino cuts. “It’s called relief printing. Essentially I cut the lino and create initially very stark images, then I warm the picture up with colours. Basically the work starts off in black and white and is then coloured,” he explained.
He added that Richard is a painter, who uses gloss paints, Indian inks and “anything to hand”. “His paintings are quite dramatic, colourful and surprising,” Mike said.
“Primarily”, Mike explained, “Tom’s paintings in this exhibition are miniatures, mainly on coloured cut-out paper. His works are very interesting.”
He said that they were delighted with the success of the exhibition so far. “People are telling us that what we have in the exhibition is accesible art, both visually and financially,” he commented.
The trio are planning future exhibitions together, and are currently considering Galway and Limerick as possible venues.
Mike grew up familiar with art, as his father was a wood engraver, and ran various art schools in England, where Mike grew up. “The art seems to be passing down through the generations in my family. Two of my daughters, Tessa and Josie, have gone through the Limerick School of Art and Design, where they studied printmaking. Josie is currently exhibiting in Limerick Printmakers. It would be fair to say that there is quite a lot of art in our home,” he said.
Richard’s daughter, Melina, is also using her inherited artistic talent and is working as an architect.
Tom’s background is in the music industry, in a production capacity, in the United States, which led him to work with the likes of Luka Bloom and Peadar Ó Riada.
The exhibition runs daily until Monday at the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon from 12 to 5pm.